Gov. John Kasich appeared Wednesday night in Lake County where he spoke about his biennial budget proposal that also included a passionate plea for openness to the expansion of Medicaid in Ohio.

Kasich was the featured speaker of the Lake County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner held at the American-Croatian Lodge in Eastlake.

The governor said during a 35-minute speech in front of about 250 people that he is not a fan of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which many call Obamacare. He also does not support the law's individual mandate to purchase health care insurance.

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But Kasich said the expansion of Medicare in Ohio would include 100 percent of the cost paid for by the federal government for the first three years is something the state shouldn't pass up.

The governor said it's not just a matter of economics, rather there are services and people who could use that funding especially for mental health services and addiction treatment.

"All of us are equal in the eyes of the Lord," Kasich said. "People need to see our hearts."

He also said when people don't have health care insurance they have to go to emergency rooms to receive treatment and that's the most inefficient and costly way to provide health care.

He urged legislators and fellow Republicans to keep an open mind about Medicare expansion.

"We cannot fear new ideas, we cannot fear change," the governor said.

The state expects more than 365,000 Ohio residents will be eligible next year if the expansion is approved.

State Sen. John Eklund, R-Munson Township, said what is impressive to him is the governor has a way to draw distinction between philosophy and principle on the subject.

Eklund said a Medicaid expansion would carry a number of items like tightening eligibility requirements and shifting of some of the social service requirements and things that would save the state more than $230 million during the next biennium.

"I am convinced that we need to do something to expand Medicaid coverage," Eklund said. "It is increasing the number of people who are dependent, but there are many other beneficial aspects to it. Somehow we have to get it done."

Kasich also talked about his tax reform proposals that include reducing income tax rates by 20 percent and lowering the sales tax by 0.5 percent while at the same time broadening the base to include many different types of services.

Democrats have generally disagreed with that argument by saying the policy to broaden sales taxes hurts people with lower income. They also say lowering income taxes mostly helps people who are wealthy.

Kasich's argument is to shift tax collections to make them based more on consumption through sales taxes while lowering the rate of income taxes.

The governor also said many of the services that aren't subject to sales tax were not in place when sales taxes were implemented in the 1930s, and it is time to modernize the tax code.

He also touted a proposal to reduce taxes on small business owners by 50 percent because he said they are "job creators."

The governor also discussed the transportation budget that includes allowing bonds to be issued and paid back using Ohio Turnpike tolls.

With other sources of funding, $3 billion could be generated for highway projects, Kasich said.

"Some projects that would have been put off for 25 to 30 years could now be completed in five to six years," he said.

Completing those highway projects will help put people back to work without tax increases, the governor said.

Lake County Republican Party Chairman Dale Fellows said Kasich has led Ohio through quite a turnaround during the past two years.

"He's got the leadership and he's empowering other people to use their vision and to implement programs and creative ideas to create jobs and create a vibrant economy," Fellows said. "The results are there."